12 Worst Movie Performances Of 2018 (So Far)

8. Deric McCabe (A Wrinkle In Time)

Look, it's never fun to criticise child actors for their performances: they're young, they're still learning, and if they don't have a skilled director to guide them through the process, it shouldn't be terribly surprising when they turn in wonky results.

Deric McCabe's performance as protagonist Meg's (Storm Reid) precocious younger brother Charles Wallace, however, is pretty much a note-perfect lesson in what child actors shouldn't do.

From his overly mannered, eerily adult tone of speaking to his grating, high-pitched voice, pretty much everything he says is offputting in one way or another.

The fact that - spoilers, if you somehow care - Charles Wallace ends up becoming the movie's "villain" in act three only makes matters worse, as young McCabe's attempts to be menacing and fierce are, well, laughable.

Director Ava DuVernay should shoulder a decent amount of the blame here for sure, though honestly, the casting director is who really buggered this one up.